Do you sincerely think that this is a manual process?

I get that it is a major undertaking. I just wish they would build in sufficient time to process the results. Frankly, I would have preferred if they had said that the results would not be available until 1+ weeks after the lottery closed if the results were posted at a date/time certain.

They probably have something like 10,000 kids with 6 choices apiece. That's 60,000 records to verify. Hell, I'm surprised they process and post them in just 4 days.

Just want to reiterate PP and other posters - we struck out in the DCPS lottery, as well as 10+ charter lotties. After an anxious summer of waiting, we got into our first choice one week into the school year.

gosh, just reading this post brings all the anxiety back from last year. I think the results were posted around 7pm. We ended up with spectacularly unlucky results.
However, when it was all said and done we got a spot in our preferred school.
Remember--this is just the beginning. Wait lists move A TON.

I just spoke to someone too - apparently they have some technical issues - the timeline they gave me - "as soon as it is ready". I suggest everyone, for your sake, focus on something else for the time being.

Hmm not sure about results today. The DC twitter just changed from:

"The DCPS Lottery results will be announced today. We will update everyone as soon as we release the results. Thank you."

to:

16m
@RachelPerrone
"We are working to release the results today."

updates on their twitter feed:
http://twitter.com/#%21/dcpublicschools

Just spoke to someone. They said that they don't have an estimated time that they will post the results. They said that they expected them to be posted by 3, but that is not the case.

I found the following on the FAQ page for the lottery:


The results of the Preschool/Pre-K and Out-of-Boundary Lottery for school year 2012-2013 were released on the DCPS website on March 2, 2012.

Seems to support others comments that they are withholding the information until the offices close - as others have suggested. Wish they would just state this if so.

I think maybe people are being negative because a lot rides on the results for a lot of families.

Yeah, wow, as a veteran I'm expecting it to be soonish. Seems like a lot of the newbies are coming in with already bad attitudes on DCPS. Not saying it's not mostly warranted, but you won't last long in DCPS unless you learn to chill just a little bit. The results will be out soon enough. In the grand scheme of things, a few hours doesn't matter. (though you'd think after last year they'd have adjusted their release time to set expectations!).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:And to add - the selection should all be a computer generated, automated algorithm - executed by a push of a button. If they have to go in an scrub the results and do some manual manipulation, which is what it would take the additional time - I said it earlier, I then questions the integrity of the entire process.

But a spot-check of the data would be responsible. I trust my own queries 100%, but I'd be a fool to send data to clients without examining it first.

Agreed. Also - a previous poster said sibling preferences were being 'checked' by applicants entering the names of the sibling. Which is another area of potential data double checking - I.e letting the computer flag potential problem entires, but then someone manually checking those to assess if there is a real issue or there was a typo, etc.

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree - they closed the lottery on the 27th - the results must have been drawn by now and the only thing left would be to just upload them on the website; They's better now be running the actual random selection today and hoping to post the same day.

I hope that they are not doing the selection today. I'm sure that they are waiting to close their offices before announcing the results. However, if they don't post today, they will have a lot of angry parents who met DCPS deadlines and expect the same from them. We are after all, tax payers. Good luck everyone!

Anonymous wrote:And to add - the selection should all be a computer generated, automated algorithm - executed by a push of a button. If they have to go in an scrub the results and do some manual manipulation, which is what it would take the additional time - I said it earlier, I then questions the integrity of the entire process.

But a spot-check of the data would be responsible. I trust my own queries 100%, but I'd be a fool to send data to clients without examining it first.